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What should I know if I have individual health insurance?

The state you live in matters

If you buy insurance for yourself, many of your rights and protections vary based on the state you live in.

In most states, insurers can decide what kind of policy to offer you. They can turn you down for coverage, offer you a very expensive policy, or offer you a policy that doesn’t cover your pre-existing condition, including a disability.

In a handful of states, insurers that sell individual health insurance can’t turn you down because of your health status, disability, or other factors. Contact your State Department of Insurance to see if this protection applies to you.

Rights and protections under individual coverage

The Affordable Care Act has added new rights and protections for all consumers, including greater access to individual health insurance policies.

As of September 2010, new individual policies (and work-based plans) aren’t allowed to turn children down because of a pre-existing condition, including a disability. Learn more about children’s pre-existing conditions. Starting in 2014, these same plans won’t be able to turn down anyone who has a pre-existing condition, including a disability.

If your child is under age 26, he or she can remain covered under your policy. Under the Affordable Care Act, private health insurance that offers dependent coverage must allow parents to cover their children until age 26. Your children don’t need to live with you to be eligible for this coverage. Learn more about young adults and the Affordable Care Act.

Once you (and your family) have an individual health insurance policy, it cannot be canceled or discontinued when you or a family member get sick. If you bought an individual policy, then got sick, and then your insurance company asks questions about whether you should have been eligible to buy the policy in the first place, you should contact your State Consumer Assistance Program or find other consumer assistance in your state.

The Affordable Care Act protects you against insurance companies dropping your coverage when you get sick only because you made a mistake on your coverage application. Learn more about your protection against insurers dropping your coverage.

Contact your State Department of Insurance for more information about your rights and protections under individual health insurance.

You can also find consumer assistance in your state for more information. Our map will point you either to an active Consumer Assistance Program or some useful resources that may provide answers.